World Sanskrit Day 2025 Observed on August 9 to Promote One of India’s Oldest Languages.
Important Days
World Sanskrit Day, also known as International Sanskrit Day, Sanskrit Diwas, or Vishva Samskrita Dinam, is celebrated annually on Shravana Purnima, the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana, to honor and promote Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in India and the world. The day highlights the cultural and linguistic heritage embodied by Sanskrit and its significance in Indian history and literature.
- World Sanskrit Day 2025 was observed on August 9, while in 2024 it fell on August 19, and in 2026 it will be observed on August 28, reflecting the lunar calendar timing based on Shravana Purnima. Additionally, Sanskrit Week 2025 is set to be celebrated from August 6 to August 12 to further encourage the learning and use of Sanskrit.
- The observance of World Sanskrit Day traces back to 1969 when the Government of India’s Ministry of Education directed that Sanskrit Diwas be celebrated at both central and state levels, establishing a formal government initiative to promote Sanskrit language education and awareness.
- The first official celebration of World Sanskrit Day by the Government of India took place in 1969, marking the beginning of a nationwide effort to revive and sustain interest in Sanskrit, especially among younger generations and scholars.
Main Point :- (i) The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Panini, the ancient Sanskrit scholar and grammarian whose work laid the foundation for classical Sanskrit grammar. His contributions remain crucial to the study and understanding of Sanskrit linguistics.
(ii) Sanskrit is considered one of the world’s oldest languages and is revered as the "Mother of All Languages" and the "Language of the Gods" due to its rich philosophical, literary, and spiritual traditions in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
(iii) In 2005, the Government of India granted Sanskrit the status of a Classical Language of India and included it in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which officially recognizes 22 scheduled languages, thereby acknowledging its historical and cultural importance.
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